advice on front leaf spring bending wrong way
 

I own a 86 k5 and recently I added some lift with shakles on the front. Doing this made the front left spring bend the wrong way an advice?

Get stronger springs?

checked to make sure none are cracked

When you add longer shackles on your leafs, it increases the pressure on the spring causing it to bend more. When I put shackles on the back of my Jimmy, the leafs became almost completely straight. I don't know how many miles your springs have on them but chances are, they may just not be as strong as they used to be. Maybe get a new set or look into and add-a-leaf?

All k-5 1/2 tons I have ever owned had negative arch front springs. That is why swapping in rear leafs to the front gives you the 5" Lift.

My bet is that it is no more negative arched now than it was before, you just notice it a little more, you do know that a 2"inch longer shackle will not give you 2" of lift right?

My advice:

Depends on what you are going for, if it was me.... If you want a reliable good riding suspension to run 33-35" tires then do the rear springs in the front, scrap the sway bars, shackle flip in the rear, replace the shocks on all 4 corners and go high steer. It will flex like a 13yo russian gymnast and ride like a caddilac.... I fit 35's that way NO PROBLEM on my 89. Drove it every day I wasn't working, could have drove it to work no problem (55 miles each way), but the highway drive never was that great on it, it always wanted to wonder, and the gas milage sucked.